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Mayor Higgins' Hot Chocolate Run to benefit Safe Passage |
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2007 Race ResultsRunners' StoriesThe Hot Chocolate Run is not just a great fund raiser for Safe Passage. It's also a fun, community event, and a great first race for new runners. Because of the high level of community participation, new runners can feel encouraged and supported throughout the race, and even in the weeks leading up to the run. We've included on this page some links to training programs and tips for the new runner. And each week, we'll bring you stories from other new runners who are training for the Hot Chocolate Run. Running My First 5K I started running two years ago, after I turned 40. I had never run before in my life. It wasn’t easy when I started up, and it was even harder maintaining my motivation day after day, week after week. I’d have those low points where I’d go days or weeks or even months without running, and then have such a hard time getting back into it. It was an ongoing struggle to keep on a regular running schedule. And then late last year, a friend told me about the first Hot Chocolate Run to benefit Safe Passage. As a long time advocate for battered women, how could I not run a race that would help survivors of domestic violence? And if I was going to run that race, well, I had better be able to actually run the whole race. As it turned out, though, the fact that the race proceeds would benefit Safe Passage was not the biggest motivator for me. I mean, heck, I could just write out a check and not have to actually run 3 miles. But the mention of Safe Passage, and of battered women, brought to the front of my mind the journeys so many of my former clients had taken to leave abusive relationships. It was never a straight path. There were always stops and starts. Times when they went back, because they couldn’t keep their strength up to deal with everything that leaving entailed. When staying seemed easier than going, even though they knew it wasn’t good for them in the long run. And yet, all of my clients ended up leaving finally. They all got away, and that basic fact still strikes me as simply heroic. And inspirational. The simple truth is the women who would benefit from this race had
to find motivation every day for an infinitely harder task than just
running 3 miles. I thought of those women every morning that I thought I
couldn’t get out of bed to go run, and I especially held them
in my thoughts on a cold and rainy day last December, when I ran my
first 5K through the streets of Northampton. We welcome your input in helping us build this page for Hot Chocolate Runners. Send an email • share the story of your first 5K Casting
Off the Winter Time Chills Imagine this: Yes, the days are shorter now, and for many of us that means running in the dark. It means cold runny noses and slippery roads. It means motorists who don't see us because they didn't scrape off their windshield. It means under-dressing and being cold at the start of a run or over-dressing and being soaked in sweat at the end. But it also means beautiful pre-dawn or evening moonlight reflecting off the snow. It means watching the sunrise at the end of a long run. It means quiet, meditative runs down the middle of a dark, rarely used street; the only noise being that of your breath and the sound of your feet on the pavement. Yes, winter running can be a challenge, but it can also be its own reward. The key to enjoying wintertime running is in the preparation. You need to understand what to wear on your feet, legs, torso, hands, and head; you need to make sure you can be seen and are prepared to take evasive action when you are not seen; and you need to know when you should find some other form of exercise. Cold Weather Attire * Some medium weight socks If you run in an environment where the temperatures frequently get below zero, you may want wind pants and a balaclava. Running here in Vermont, before sunrise, such gear is rarely needed. You also don't need Gore-Tex or other expensive coated nylon running suits. An inexpensive nylon running shell will do. If it does rain a lot where you run, you may want a coated nylon shell, but you can pick that up for less than $20. Make sure you check out our recommended winter running supplies. Whenever you can, wear clothes that unbutton or unzip. That way you can zip up at the beginning or end of runs or when running into the wind, but unzip a couple layers after you warm up or when your back is to the wind. Your socks should be longer than anklet or mini-crews. Go for a full-length crew so there is no gap between the bottom of your tights and the top of your socks. Treadmills at Workout Warehouse Your toes will rarely get cold while running as long as you are wearing decent socks. On those really cold days, however, you may want to consider wearing trail running shoes. They tend to protect your feet more than lighter weight shoes. You can also take a plastic sandwich bag and put it over your socks before putting your feet in your shoes. That will protect your toes from wind and moisture. Avoid the most common mistake... But take care not to overdress: although you will be comfortable at the beginning, you will soon start to overheat. An overdressed winter runner can sweat just as profusely and dehydrate just as quickly as the summer runner. And the sweat drenched winter runner has to worry about another danger: hypothermia. If you are out for a long run, get soaked in sweat early on, and then have to slow down because you are dehydrated or have to turn back into a head wind, you can easily get chilled or worse. So monitor your body temperature. If you find you are starting to sweat heavily, stop, take off a layer, and tie it around your waist, or ditch it somewhere you can pick it up on the way back. You can always put it back on if you get cold. How much should you wear? That depends on how hard you are planning
to run, how prone you are to getting cold (some people never seem to
get cold), and whether you are recovering from an injury. You will have
to experiment some before you find out the perfect mix. But you will
learn quicker if you make a note in your log of the temperature, wind
speed, what you wore, and whether your attire was appropriate. Something
like this: Some rules of thumb... You can also follow these guidelines when getting dressed for that cold winter run (temperatures are in Fahrenheit): * Less than 40° but more than 30° Adjust this to your own personal preference. And don't forget to lighten up on your attire if you are running hard, but add a layer if the wind is blowing hard. If you are recovering from any leg injuries, you may want to consider dressing a little warmer than usual so that the injured leg stays warm. On some of those really cold days, when it is below -10°, you may have to deal with frozen eyelashes. This is a minor nuance if it is dealt with promptly. Once you feel ice starting to form on your eyelashes, simply take off your one mitten and melt the ice with your fingers. This is quickly done if you don't let too much ice accumulate. If you let it go too long, you may find your upper eyelashes freezing to your lower eyelashes. Seeing and Being Seen To be seen you need to wear reflective gear. A good reflective vest should be your first purchase. You can also wear reflective ankle bands. Or get two pair of reflective ankle bands: put one pair on your ankles and the other around your elbows. In many cases it is also advisable to carry a flashlight or other light. There are some new lightweight LCD headlights that are great for running, but a cheap hand held flashlight will do. A flashlight can be pointed at oncoming cars or at the edge of the road. When a car is coming towards you it is best to keep as far to the left as possible. But that can be difficult, since the glare from the car's headlights often make it difficult to see where the edge of the road is. A flashlight can help you do that. So you've adorned yourself with reflective gear and lights. You can relax and be assured that drivers will see you right? Well, no! It is amazing how many drivers will come straight at you even though you light up like a Christmas tree. Many veteran runners have had to dive into ditches or snow banks in order to avoid oncoming vehicles. Consequently, you should always run facing traffic and be prepared to get out of the way if necessary. When You Shouldn't Go Out for that Run Extreme cold presents the obvious risk of frostbite. Slippery roads can lead to falls and subsequent injuries. But running hard on slippery roads can also lead to other injuries. When you run on slippery roads you typically alter your stride and consequently strain your muscles in unfamiliar ways. This can lead to overuse injuries even though you haven't increased your mileage. And then there are those oncoming cars. They may see you, but they may not be able to give you any room. When running on slippery roads, assume that all cars will maintain their trajectory and be prepared to get out of the way. Even if you can't run, you may be able to exercise. If you can, put on a pair of cross-country skis or show shoes. If you are forced to stay inside, consider a bicycle trainer, rowing machine, or treadmill. Other Precautions Final Thoughts |
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